adjective
Uncommon
contrived
kuhn-TRYVD
Contrived (adjective) means Planned or created in an artificial, forced way rather than arising naturally. Example: “The film's happy ending felt contrived and unearned.”
adjective
1
Planned or created in an artificial, forced way rather than arising naturally.
"The film's happy ending felt contrived and unearned."
"Their friendly small talk seemed contrived, as if rehearsed beforehand."
How to use contrived
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishForced or fake-feeling, rather than natural or spontaneous.
Common pairings
a contrived plot
feel contrived
contrived ending
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more contrived
- Superlative
- most contrived
Fill the gap
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The film's happy ending felt _____ and unearned.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for contrived
See all rhymes for contrived →Frequently asked questions
What does “contrived” mean?
The word “contrived” means planned or created in an artificial, forced way rather than arising naturally. In plain terms, forced or fake-feeling, rather than natural or spontaneous.
How do you pronounce “contrived”?
“Contrived” is pronounced kuhn-TRYVD (/kənˈtɹaɪvd/ in IPA).
How do you use “contrived” in a sentence?
Here is “contrived” used in a sentence: “The film's happy ending felt contrived and unearned.”
What is another word for “contrived”?
Words with a similar meaning to “contrived” include staged, insincere and factitious.
What is the opposite of “contrived”?
The opposite of “contrived” — its antonyms — is spontaneous.
What part of speech is “contrived”?
“Contrived” is an adjective.
Is “contrived” a common word?
“Contrived” is an uncommon word in modern English.
